Pressure and volume regulator for fluids



' July 28, 1925.

l 1,547,269 H. sPENl-:R

- PRESSURE AND VOLUME REGULATOR FOR FLUIDS Filed June 15, 1921 ffgfl l To all whom t may emmer/n."

Patented July'i28, 1.925"- IRA H. SPENCER, vor

HARTFORD, coNNEcr'rcnn AssrGNoR fro THE SPENCER TURBINE' COMPANY, OF-WEST HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

, PRESSURE ann voLuME REGULATOR FOR Raums.

'appnaaonmea rune 15, 1,921. serial No.3477,s51.

Be it lknovvn that LIRA H. SPENQER, a

' citizenof the United States, and aresident of `VVestkHarti'ord, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented new and Improved Pressure and Volume Regulators for Fluids, of which the followj ingis a specification.

My invention relates to the classof devices that are employed to regulate the pressure or the volume of fluid flowing, as through a conduit, and an object of my invention,

,i among others, i's to -provide a device of this f Aclass that may be readily arranged-to regulate the pressure or volume of'such'iluid in articularly eflicient manner.

ne form of device embodying my invention and in the construction and use of Which the objects herein 'set out, as Well as others, maybe attained, is illustrated in the accomv panying drawings, in Which- .round in cross section and that the Figure 1 is a view in central vertical section througha conduit -and through my improved regulator shown as connected thereto, it being understood that the conduit' is case of the regulator `is also round in cross section which in the regulator as illustrated would be in a horizontal planeyone of the tubes leading from the conduit to the regulator being shown as somewhatedistorted in order to clearly illustrate' --he structure.

- Figure 2 is a vie illustrating a modifiedform of the apparatus.

In the accompanying drawings the numr` al 5 indicates a conduit for conducting flow of fluid, as air, for any purpose that may be desired. The conditions of useof the air flowing through said conduit are, such, in numerous instances, as to require that` the volume of air passing through said conduit i 'i within a given period shall be under control,and the device illustrated and described herein and embodying my invention provides'meansfor maintaining such control. A damper or valve 6 is pivotally mounted in thefconduit, the latter having interrupters l 4 at the to velocity o and bottom sides to reducethe the air when 4the `dampers are nearly closed, such effects being of advantage When the conduit i-sused for the supply of air as to a 1musical instrument. The damper is provided With an arm 7 terminating in a Weight 8, that' may be integrally formed on the arm, which Weight is used to hold the valve normally open. A regulator case 9v is supported upon' the conduit as by means offv a 'neck 10, the passage through which ycommunicates'with 'an opening 11 thro-ugh the `Wall of the conduit, and a damper actuating diaphragm"v 12 extends across the case 9, preferably near its lower end. A damper actuating rod 13 operatively connects the damper and diaphragm, being f I.of the lever 16 With the lever 15 near its. arrangement being for the purpivot, this pose of increasing the degree of movement vof the damper 6 yas compared with that ofthe valve-cylinder 14 in the structure herein shown the degree of the movement of the damper being about" sixteen times greater than-that of said cylinder.

This valve-cylinder is mounted for reciprocatingmovemnt in a housing 18 located, in the structure 'herein shown, partly in'a chamber 19 in the case 9. and partly in y a chamber 20 in a dome located on top of the case"9, said housing, as herein illustrated, comprising an integral part of the bottom of said dome that forms va .cover 22 which closes anv opening vin the top of the case 9. A relief passa e 23 extends from the chamber Within theghousin'g out through the Wall ofthe dome'21, and a pressure equalizing tube 24 extends from the chamber' Within the housing tothe diaphragm 12 to provide a passage from saidchambe'rthrough said diaphragm. j v A piston-valve 25 is located for reciprocating movements Within the valve-cylinder. 14 and has a groove around its periphery forming a passage 26 arranged lto register With ports 27 through thewall ofthe valve-cylinder and'communicating with the chamber 19, said passage being also adapted to register With ports 28 throughthewall of said valve-cylinder and communicating with the passage through the tube 24.' The pistonvalve has a central 'opening 29 extending from its lower end and ports 30 connecting said central openingwith the open upper end of the valve-cylinder 14.

A piston-valve-operating-rod 31 extends through the top of the housing and connects the piston-valve with' a piston-valveoperating-diaphragm 32 extending across the chamber in the dome 21.and dividing said chamber into two chambers, a dynamicpressure-chamber 20 and a static-pressurechamber 34. A main spring 35 is seated against the diaphragm 32 and thrusts with its upper end against a spring adjusting cap 36 closing an opening in the upper end of the dome and secured in place as by means of interengaging screw threads. A valve-piston-operating-spring 37 is located within the opening in the central part of the valve-piston and is seated upon the bottom of the chamber in the valve-cylinder 14. A static-pressure tube 38, that may be composed of rubber or other suitable material, extends from the static-pressure chamber 34, and a static-pressure ring 39, surroundv ing the conduit 5, has an annular chamber communicating with the interior of the conduit, as by means of small ports, as shown in the drawing. The dynamic-pressure chamber 20 is in communication with the conduit 5 as by means of a dynamic-pressure tube 40 that terminates in a nozzle 41 opening into the conduit lengthwise thereof and preferably at its axial center.

This arrangement causes the static pressure within the conduit 5 to be transmitted to the chambers 20 and 34, such pressure being, therefore, equalized in said chambers when air is not owing through the conduit 5. In the operation of the device the parts being in the position shown in the drawings it will be observed that the damper 6 iS held open by means of the weight 8, it being assumed that air within the conduit is not in motion. Such air being set in motion, as by a fan or blower, will pass, as to a portion, into the nozzle 41 and therefrom to the chamber 20 within which the pressure will be increased by such dynamic action thereby creating what I term a dynamic pressure, this being a pressure exceeding that of the normal static pressure within the chambers 20 and 34. The tension of the spring 35 being adjusted by means of the cap 36 to provide for the llow of a certain volume of air through the conduit 5, when the rate of movement of such air exceeds a point to provide the necessary volume the dynamic pressure within the chamber 20 will raise the diaphragm 32 and this will raise the piston-valve 25 and open the ports 27 allowing air to flow from the chamber 19 into the lower end of the valve-cylinder and upwardly through the central opening in the piston-valve, through the ports in the upper end thereof and outwardly through the relief passage 23. The pressures on opposite sides of the diaphragm 12 will thus be unbalanced and the latter will move upwardly, imparting a closing movement to the damper 6. This upward movement of the diaphragm 12, through the levers 15 and 16, will impart an upward movement to the Valve-cylinder 14, and this which is now in excess of that above said diaphragm, will be transmitted through the equalizing tube 24, the passage 26 and the ports'27 to the upper side of the diaphragm, thus equalizing the pressure on both sides of said diaphragml and causing the latter to move downwardly, thus imparting an opening movement to the damper 6. In this downward movement of the diaphragm 12 the levers 15 and 16 will operate to move the valve-cylinder 14 downwardly thereby closing the ports 27, and the operations thus described will be repeated so long as the velocity of the air in the conduit 5 exceeds orfalls short of the rate to supply that quantity of air for which the regulator is set. In this operation of the parts the spring within the opening 29 will assist in the movements of the valve-cylinder 14 as well as that of the piston-valve 25. v

The device may be readily adapted to control the pressure of air and to maintain a required degree of such static pressure by connecting the tube 38 with the chamber 2() and dispensing with the tube 40 and nozzle 41. When thus arranged the static pressure will be communicated to the chamber 20 and the operations of the diaphragm 32 will -be effected by the pressure in thechamber 20 acting in opposition to the force of the spring 35 to operate the piston valve and the valve-cylinder. The valve 6 is of such shape that it will contact with its seat at all points about its periphery when it is closed, such seat in the structure herein shown being constituted by a lining 42 as of felt or other yielding material.

As hereinbefore mentionedthis device is especially applicable for controlling the supply of air to a musical instrument, and in such use it is material that when the instrument, as an organ, is not playing, o r. is playing very softly with very little air flowing thru the conduit, and there being nothing, therefore, to drown the noise which may be transmitted on this volume of air, that at such time, some means shall be provided to prevent the transmission of sound on such volume of air, and to this end the inter- .the pressure underneath the diaphragm 12,

l OO

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, ciples of operation of-'my invention,

rupters 4 are located at the top and bottom sides of the conduit to provide al tortuous passage between the periphery of the valve which l, is seated close to the interrupters and said interruptersthis passage breaking up the sound'waves and, therefore, reducing the transmission of sound upon the 4volume of air. v

The rod 31 is constructed to rest with one end against the diaphragm 32 so that no cramping action is effected by the parts to restrict free and easy movement of said rod. In accordance with. the provisions of the patent statutes I have described the prinl together with the -device which I-now consider to represent the'best embodiment thereof; but I desire' to have it understood that the device shown isonly illustrative, and that the invention maybe carried out by other means. I claiml. A regulatorfor.' controlling flow of air through a conduit and comprising a case, a diaphragm dividingsaid case into chambers,'a tube connecting one of said chambers with said conduit whereby pressure vis transmitted `from the latter to the former, a damper actuating diaphragm for operating a damper in said conduit, and a connection betweenl said damper actuating diaphragm and the other diaphragm and includin a in said cylinder 4 to cont-rol pressures on posite sides Vof said valve operating ment of the diap valve operated by the last mentioned iaphragm to aiiect pressures on opposite-sides,` of the damper actuating'diaphra in.

2. A regulatorv for controlling through a conduit and comprising a case, a diaphragm dividing said case intochambers, a tube connecting one of said chambers with said conduit whereby pressure is transmitted from the latter tothe former, a damper actuating diaphragm, a valve cylinder operatively "connected 'with said damper actuating diaphra-gima valve piston located phragm, Iand a connectionA between'said piston and' thefirst mentioned diaphragm.`

3. A regulator for'controlling flow of air through a conduit and comprising a case, a diaphragmfdividing said case into chambers, a tube 'co'nnecting one of said chambers with said lconduit whereby pressure'is transmitted from; theA 4la'tter'lt'o. the '';ormer, a damper actuatingdiaphragm, a lvalve cylinder, a system of levers connecting said diaphragm and cyllind'erto impart themoveragm to the cylinder to a reduced extent, 'a valve piston located in said cylinder toontrol pressures on said valve operating diaphragm, and a connection between said piston and the rst mentioned diaphragm.'

4. A regulator for controlling iow of air through a conduit and comprising'a case, a diaphragm dividing said case into `cham,-

tively connected with ow of air dia-4 ,Case in tt bers, a tube connecting one of the chambers with said conduit whereby pressure is transmitted from the latter to the former, a

damper actuating diaphragm, a housing, a tube connecting the interior of the housing with the chamber on oneside'of said damper actuating diaphragm, and a valve operathe first mentioned diaphragm to control orts communicating with lsaid tube to there y control the movement of the valve operating diaphragm.

5. A regulator forcontrolling flow of air ,Q

through a conduit and comprising a case,

a diaphragm dividing said case into chambers, a tube connecting one of said' chambers with said conduit whereby pressure is transmitted from the latter to the former, a valve operating diaphragm adapted. to be connected with a damper in said conduit, and a connection between saiddiaphragms vand including a valve operated by the diaphragm irst mentioned to control pressuresl 4 on opposite sides of 'the actuating-diaphragm.

' 6. A volume regulator constructed for operation in connection with a conduit for the transmission of fluid and comprising a case, a diaphragm dividing said case into chambers, tubes connecting each of said chambers with the passage in said conduit,

one of said tubes being arranged to receive` air from the current in the conduit by reason of the velocity of said current'whereby the dynamic. pressure is established in one of said chambers, and ia damper actuating mem-` A beroperatively connected with saidy dia"- pb ragm.

7. A -volume 'regulator constructed for operation incon-nection with a conduit 'for the transmission of Huid and comprising a case, a diaphragm dividing said lcase into chambers, tubes connecting each of said chamberswith the passage in said conduit,

one of said tubes being arranged `to receive air `rom'the current in said conduit by reason of the velocity of said current` whereby dynamic pressure is established in one of said chambers, means to resiliently re sist said dynamic pressure, and a damper actuating member operatively connected with said diaphragm. C. Y 8. A volume regu ator constructed for operation in connection` with a conduit for the transmission'of fluid and comprising a a valve operating diaphragm located e cas, a. damper operating diaphragm located in the'case, avalve connected with the zvalve 'actuating dia hra m to control pressures on opposite si eso the valve actuating diaphragm, and means controlled by said valve for transmitting "9, A rvolume regulator constructed ,for operationin connection with a conduit for ressures from oneside of the damper actuating diaphragm to the other side thereof.

the transmission of fluid and comprising a case7 a valve actuating diaphragm located in said case, a Valve connected with said diaphragm, a valvecylinder to receive said valve, a damper actuating diaphragm operativ'ely connected With said cylinder, and

'ranged to receive air from the current in the conduit by reason of the Velocity of said current Wherebyvdynainic pressure is es- 20 tablishedv in one of said chambers, a damper located in said conduit, and mechanism connecting said diaphragm and damper Whereby the position ofthe latter iscontrolled by the dynamic pressure in said chamber.

ll. A regulator for controlling flow of uidthrough a conduit and comprising a damper located in said conduit, a mechanism for actuating vsaid damper, and an air current interrupter located adjacent to the seat of the damper and spaced therefrom When` the latter is nearly closed'to provide a tort'uous passage whereby to obstruct flow of fluid passing the edges of said damper when it is in its nearly closed position thereby breaking up the sound Waves to reduce transmission of sound With the volume of air, said interrupter permitting a substantially free flow when the damper is in its open position.

IRA H. SPENCER. 

